Plate heat exchanger

Abstract

The invention relates to a rigid structure plate heat exchanger. The plates of this exchanger comprise a central exchange area and two parallel borders which, when stacked, form two distributor blocks. For one of each pair of spaces distribution takes place in a particular block by issuing directly on to the face of the stack, while for the other space in the pair it takes place by issuing on to a line of passages obtained by facing perforations throughout the stack. The perforations are elongated in the flow direction of the fluids from one distributor block to the other. The borders of the plates are staggered on either side of the plane of the central area. One of the borders is in planar contact with the border of the upper plate. The other border is in contact with the border of the lower plate leading to a so-called concertina structure closing alternate spaces in each distributor block.

We claim: 
     
       1. A plate heat exchanger comprising a stack of appropriately spaced parallel plates having a central exchange area and two parallel borders which, by their stacking, form two distributor blocks, whereby in a block distribution takes place for one space out of each pair by directly issuing on to the face of the stack and for the other space of each pair by issuing on to a line of passages obtained by perforations elongated in the direction of the flow of fluids from one distributor block to the other and which face one another throughout the stack, wherein the planes of the parallel borders of the plates are displaced on either side of the plane of the central exchange area in such a way that when the stack of plates is formed, one of the borders of one plate is in planar contact with the border of the plate immediately above it, whilst the other border of said plate is in planar contact with the border of the plate immediately below it leading to a concertina structure sealing alternate spaces in each distributor block and wherein the borders of the perforations of the passages are deformed in the direction opposite to the displacement of the border with respect to the central area so as to come into contact with the border of the perforation of the passage in the adjacent plate, the planar contact between the parallel distribution borders extending to the part of the regions located between the passages, but not to the region facing the central exchange area. 
     
     
       2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the central areas have bosses, whose height is equal to the spacing between the plates and cooperating with one or other of the adjacent plates in a smooth part. 
     
     
       3. A heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the bosses are elongated and inclined relative to the general flow direction. 
     
     
       4. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the central areas have bosses, whose height is less than the spacing between the plates and cooperating with other bosses located on adjacent plates. 
     
     
       5. A heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the bosses are elongated and inclined relative to the general flow direction. 
     
     
       6. A heat exchanger according to any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the spacing between adjacent planar plates in the exchange area is constant throughout the stack. 
     
     
       7. A plate exchanger according to claim 6, wherein it has a lateral insulation of the plates formed by means of a closed pore foam in which reinforcing sections are embedded. 
     
     
       8. An exchanger according to claim 7, wherein the closed pore foam is chosen from the group including epoxy resins, prepolymer foams and phenolic foams. 
     
     
       9. An exchanger according to claim 7, wherein it also has a plastic or metallic texture embedded in the foam. 
     
     
       10. An exchanger according to claim 9, wherein the closed pore foam is chosen from the group including epoxy resins, prepolymer foams and phenolic foams. 
     
     
       11. A plate exchanger according to any one of the claims 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein it has a lateral insulation of the plates formed by means of a closed pore foam in which reinforcing sections are embedded. 
     
     
       12. An exchanger according to claim 11, wherein the closed pore foam is chosen from the group including epoxy resins, prepolymer foams and phenolic foams. 
     
     
       13. An exchanger according to claim 11, wherein it also has a plastic or metallic texture embedded in the foam. 
     
     
       14. An exchanger according to claim 13, wherein the closed pore foam in chosen from the group including epoxy resins, prepolymer foams and phenolic foams.